Mum’s search for Yorkshire doctor who saved her daughter’s life

A woman is searching for the doctor - believed to working at a hospital in Yorkshire - who helped save her daughter’s life.

Hazel Patterson’s daughter Amy was just 18 months old when she was diagnosed with a rare spinal chord tumour.

Amy Patterson with her mum Hazel.

Hazel and husband Trevor were left devastated when they were told there was nothing that could be done, but then came a breakthrough from surgeon Tony Hockley who said he thought he could help the tot.

He performed the operation at Birmingham Children’s Hopsital where Amy also came under the care of Gerry O’Reilly.

Hazel said Gerry was working as a Senior Registrar at the Birmingham Children’s Hospital at the time in 1996.

Several operations later, fighting off a series of life threatening conditions, Hazel said Amy started to come round and recover and, eventually, the family was able to return home.

Amy when she was in Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Recently turned 21, and in her final year at the University of Ulster Jordanstown where she is studying Language and Lisguistics, Amy is living life to the full.

Sadly, said Hazel, Mr Hockley has passed away. Now she hopes to make contact with Gerry O’Reilly, who she believes is working in Yorkshire as a Consultant Neurosurgeon.

“If I was to meet Gerry O’Reilly I would give him an amazing hug and say a massive ‘thank you’ because what Gerry and Mr Hockley have given us today is more precious than words can ever say. We would love to see him and chat to him and say a very big ‘thank you’ and let him see the result of their surgical intervention and see our beautiful daughter who is as beautiful inside as she is outside.